The "Basic Strategy for Hydrogen," which the government will revise for the first time in six years, was compiled at the relevant ministerial meeting on June 6 toward the development and dissemination of hydrogen, which is attracting attention as a next-generation energy source. Japan has positioned nine technologies, including fuel cells and water electrolysers, as "strategic areas," and the public and private sectors will invest more than 6 trillion yen over the next 9 years.
The government held a ministerial meeting on hydrogen and renewable energy on June 6 and formally compiled the "Basic Strategy for Hydrogen."
Japan formulated the "Basic Strategy for Hydrogen" in 2017 in order to realize a hydrogen society ahead of the rest of the world, and has been working to popularize hydrogen-fueled fuel cell vehicles and utilize them for thermal power generation.
Since then, technological development and investment have been active in Europe and the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so we have revised our strategy for the first time in six years.
Among them, we have positioned nine technologies as "strategic areas" and will focus on supporting them, including water electrolysers, which are Japan's strengths, to produce hydrogen by electrolysis of water, and fuel cells, which are expected to be used in automobiles and data centers.
In addition, in order to build a hydrogen supply chain, we plan to promote technological development such as increasing the size of ships that carry hydrogen from overseas.
The government aims to invest more than 6 trillion yen in these efforts over the next 9 years, six times the current level to about 15 million tons, by the public and private sectors.
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura: "We would like to accelerate consideration of support for dissemination in Japan"
Regarding the compilation of the Basic Strategy for Hydrogen, METI Minister Nishimura stated at the press conference after the Cabinet meeting, "In the midst of the energy crisis, hydrogen is attracting attention around the world, and countries around the world are now competing fiercely for hydrogen. He indicated that he would expedite the study of support measures to close the price gap with fossil fuels.
Chief Cabinet Secretary: "We will disseminate it on a large scale from both supply and demand perspectives"
Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno stated, "Hydrogen is an industrial field that can kill three birds with one stone in decarbonization, stable energy supply, and economic growth, and we will disseminate hydrogen on a large scale from both supply and demand perspectives under an integrated regulatory and support system," and called on the relevant ministers to work together based on the new strategy.